Board game method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

What is disclosed is a novel board game that is fun and enjoyable to play.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concepts generally relateto an apparatus and method for playing a game, and more particularly toa board game and an apparatus of playing a board game.

BACKGROUND

Board games are very popular in today's society. There are manydifferent board games that exist in society. These games have rules andvarying game board setups that involve a variety of different pieces andrules. The Applicant, through, this application discloses a novel boardgame that is enjoyable to play.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The purpose of the Summary is to enable the public, and especially thescientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosureof the application. The Summary is neither intended to define theinventive concept(s) of the application, which is measured by theclaims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of theinventive concept(s) in any way.

Disclosed is a board game having a game board that, in a preferredembodiment, has two columns that intersect generally perpendicular andform the shape of an X. The X shape has four leg extensions that formthe X with a center where the four leg extensions meet. Each of the legextensions has three rows of spots that are configured for a game boardpiece to be placed. Each of these columns has a first outer row, aninner row, and a second outer row. The inner row is between the firstouter row and the second outer row. Around the perimeter of the X is apath for game board pieces to be placed along. This perimeter followsthe outside perimeter of the X shape. Along the inside row, generallyexcluding the furthest out game board piece playing spot, is a finishrow. Located outside of the X shape are four home areas that aregenerally configured with a different marker that corresponds with themarker at the series of game pieces provided with the game board.Located on the outside perimeter of each of the leg extensions is astarting point for a players game board pieces. The starting point isgenerally an interruption in the continuous path around the X shapedportion of the game board, although the starting point can be of avarying shape, color, or other indicator that does not interrupt thecontinuous path around the board game.

The leg extensions generally intersect at a rectangular series of gameboard playing piece spots that are overlapping between the columns. Inthe very center of the intersection of the legs is generally a blankspot that is not configured for a game board piece to be played on.

The game is to be played with four sets of game pieces, each of whichhas a marker that corresponds to one of the markers in the start areas.The game also includes a set of action cards. In a preferred embodiment,the action cards have a front and a back, the front having an actionstatement directing the player to move a piece a certain distance. Thegame board markers and game board piece can have a variety of differentcorresponding markers that indicates to a player were his or her gameboard pieces are going to start and finish. Additionally, the game boardhome areas each correspond to a set of markers. These markers caninclude a variety of shapes, colors, or other indicators that can beused to correspond to a game board piece to a certain area.

The game board action cards can come in a variety of different shapes ordifferent styles. These include standard poker playing cards or caninclude playing cards in any general format. The standard playing cardscan be played without the joker. In a preferred embodiment, each of thedifferent playing cards directs a player to move a different number ofspaces. In a preferred embodiment, the action cards include an ace,king, queen, jack, and cards 2-10, as found in a standard playing carddeck. In this embodiment, the ace has a dual meaning. It can be used forstarting a card or for moving a card one space. The king is used forstarting a players piece from the home area to the start, a queen can beused for starting or as a twelve, a jack can be used to trade a playerspiece with another players piece, a three is used to move players piecethree spaces backwards, and all other cards are used to move a playerspiece the number of spaces shown on the card.

The board game can be made with a variety of different embodiments thatare configured for a players playing piece to be played on. For example,these can include peg and hole embodiments, spaces for placement of aplayers playing piece, or male receptacles on to which a female playingpiece is placed. The peg and hole combination is an example of what canbe included in a male playing piece and a female receptacle on theplaying board.

In a preferred embodiment, the game board is used by starting eachplayer's playing pieces in the home area. The first set of cards isdealt to each player. When three or four players are playing the boardgame, five action cards are generally dealt in the first group to eachplayer. After each player plays the five action cards, sets of fouraction cards are dealt until all cards are played. Then deal generallyshifts to the second player who shuffles the cards and deals. This is apreferred embodiment only and is not required that the number of cardsdealt are set at five and four or that the deal shifts after a firstplayer deals all of the cards. In a preferred embodiment, when twoplayers are playing the board game five of the action cards are dealt inthe first group to each player and after the first set of cards havebeen played a second set of five cards are dealt in a second group toeach player. After all the cards are dealt, a player shuffles the cardsand proceeds with further card dealing, preferably matching the firstround of dealing.

Action cards, as stated above, allow a player to move the number ofspaces shown on the card in a first direction around a path. Several ofthe cards are directed such that they are played to allow a player toproceed one game piece from the home area to the start area. A series ofother cards are played to allow a player to exchange the location of oneof the player's game pieces with one of a second player's game pieces.The cards also involve a card that is played to allow a player to startor move twelve spaces in a first direction. A second series of cardsallows a player to move a piece three spaces in the second directionaround the perimeter of the X shaped path.

The game is typically played by each player playing a card and moving agame board piece. Play then moves to the next player to play. In apreferred embodiment a player can pass on playing by laying down anaction card and not moving any pieces. In a preferred embodiment aplayer cannot pass using any card that is chosen to move a playerspieces three spaces in the second direction. The player wins the game bygetting all of the player's pieces into the home area.

In a preferred embodiment, when a player's piece lands on the piece ofanother player, that player that landed on the other player's piece isreturned to the home area. A player can pass by laying his or her cardsface up on the table and stating that he or she passes. Generally thisoccurs by a player laying down one of his cards and waiting until thenext series of cards is played.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the game can be played withteams of two players. Generally, in this embodiment, players on oppositesides of the board game are in teams and each plays its own game boardpieces until they are all in the finish area. When this occurs, theplayer whose pieces have all reached the home area is allowed to use hisor her cards to advance his or her teammates cards. Once both members ofthe team get all of their pieces into a home area the game is over. In apreferred embodiment, when a player has multiple game board pieces onthe continuous path, the player's pieces are not allowed to pass his orher own pieces or his or her partner's pieces.

Still other features and advantages of the presently disclosed andclaimed inventive concept(s) will become readily apparent to thoseskilled in this art from the following detailed description describingpreferred embodiments of the inventive concept(s), simply by way ofillustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out the inventiveconcept(s). As will be realized, the inventive concept(s) is capable ofmodification in various obvious respects all without departing from theinventive concept(s). Accordingly, the drawings and description of thepreferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, andnot as restrictive in nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention with a first playerhaving a player piece in a starting area.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the game board.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of a game board having a firstplayer's first piece in a start area.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a player completing the game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

While the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is susceptible ofvarious modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustratedembodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will bedescribed below in detail. It should be understood, however, that thereis no intention to limit the inventive concept(s) to the specific formdisclosed, but, on the contrary, the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) is to cover all modifications, alternativeconstructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope ofthe inventive concept(s) as defined in the claims.

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment in which a player has begunplaying the board game. The illustration provides for a game board 2with four series of player pieces 6, 16, 24, and 28. First player 6 hasbegun playing by playing an action card that allows the player to startby placing a first player piece in the start zone 8. The remainders ofthe player pieces 6 are in the player's home area 7. The start area isdesignated by the player piece location 10. Also depicted is the firstplayer 6 finish area 12. The remaining players 24, 16, and 28 remain inthe player's home area 23, 15, and 27. Each of the players has a seriesof action cards as represented by one series 14 of the playing cards.Also depicted is the endless track around the X 22 that is interruptedby the starting areas including starting area 10.

FIG. 2 is a view from the game board from above. As illustrated each ofthe player pieces has a start area 8, 18, 30, 36. As depicted each ofthe player pieces has a different color including yellow, red, green andblue that corresponds, in a preferred embodiment, to the player's homearea, start area and finish area.

FIG. 3 illustrates the first player, player 8, having a green playerpiece and having one green player piece in the player start area and theremaining four pieces in the player's home area.

FIG. 4 illustrates when a player has won the game. FIG. 4 illustratesthat the yellow player has finished the game. The yellow player haspieces 32 in the finish area. The player 38 has four pieces in thefinish area but had not completed the game. FIG. 4 illustrates a bluepiece in the endless track proceeding toward the players finish area.

In a preferred embodiment, the game board is used by starting eachplayer's playing pieces in the home area. The first set of cards isdealt to each player. When three or four players are playing the boardgame, five action cards are generally dealt in the first group to eachplayer. After each player plays the five action cards, sets of fouraction cards are dealt until all cards are played. Then deal generallyshifts to the second player who shuffles the cards and deals. This is apreferred embodiment only and is not required that the number of cardsdealt are set at five and four or that the deal shifts after a firstplayer deals all of the cards. In a preferred embodiment, when twoplayers are playing the board game five of the action cards are dealt inthe first group to each player and after the first set of cards havebeen played a second set of five cards are dealt in a second group toeach player. After all the cards have been dealt, a player shuffles thecards and proceeds with further card dealing, preferably matching thefirst round of dealing.

Action cards, as stated above, allow a player to move the number ofspaces shown on the card in a first direction around a path. Several ofthe cards are directed such that they are played to allow a player toproceed one game piece from the home area to the start area. A series ofother cards are played to allow a player to exchange the location of oneof the player's game pieces with one of a second player's game pieces.The cards also involve a card that is played to allow a player to startor move twelve spaces in a first direction. A second series of cardsallows a player to move a piece three spaces in the second directionaround the perimeter of the X shaped path.

The game is typically played by each player playing a card and moving agame board piece. Play then moves to the next player to play. In apreferred embodiment a player can pass on playing by laying down anaction card and not moving any pieces. In a preferred embodiment aplayer cannot pass using any card that is chosen to move a playerspieces three spaces in the second direction. The player wins the game bygetting all of the player's pieces into the home area.

In a preferred embodiment, when a player's piece lands on the piece ofanother player, the player that landed on the other player's piecereturns the other player's piece to his home area. A player can pass bylaying his or her cards face up on the table and stating that he or shepasses. Generally this occurs by a player laying down one of his cardsand waiting until the next series of cards is dealt.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the game can be played withteams of two players. Generally, in this embodiment, players on oppositesides of the board game are in teams and each plays its own game boardpieces until they are all in the finish area. When this occurs, theplayer whose pieces have all reached the home area is allowed to use hisor her cards to advance his or her teammates cards. Once both members ofthe team get all of their pieces into a home area the game is over. In apreferred embodiment, when a player has multiple game board pieces onthe continuous path, the players pieces are not allowed to pass his orher own pieces or the pieces of his or hers partner.

While certain exemplary embodiments are shown in the Figures anddescribed in this disclosure, it is to be distinctly understood that thepresently disclosed inventive concept(s) is not limited thereto but maybe variously embodied to practice within the scope of the followingclaims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that variouschanges may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure as defined by the following claims.

1. a board game, the board game including a game board having twocolumns intersecting generally in the shape of an x, wherein saidcolumns of said x comprise four leg extensions of said x, wherein eachof said columns consists of three rows of piece spots configured for aboard game piece to be placed at, wherein said columns consists of afirst outer row, an inner row, and a second outer row, wherein saidinner row is located between said first outer row and said second outerrow, wherein said game board comprises four home areas configured forplacement of a series of game board pieces, wherein each of said fourhome areas is configured with a different marker corresponding with themarker of a series of game pieces, wherein said rows of saidintersecting columns are configured such that the perimeter of said legextensions is configured to be in a marker different from said four homeareas and designate an endless path, wherein each of said leg extensionscomprises a starting point for one of said four series of game boardpieces on said path, wherein each of said starting points comprises aninterruption in said continuous path, wherein the middle point of theintersection of said columns comprises a space without any indicatorwhich is part of the continuous path, wherein each of said legextensions of said x comprise a home area for said game pieces, whereineach of said leg extensions comprises a home area for one set of gamepieces wherein said home areas comprise 5 spaces, wherein each of saidhome areas extends from said continuous path inward to said open space,wherein there are no chance spots and no roll spots; four sets of gamepieces, wherein each set of game pieces comprises a marker correspondingto one of said markers of said start areas and said home areas, whereineach set of game pieces comprises five pieces; and a plurality of actioncards, each card having a front and a back, wherein the front has anaction statement.
 2. The board game of claim 1 wherein said cardscomprise a deck of playing cards.
 3. The board game of claim 1 whereinsaid markers comprise colors.
 4. The board game of claim 1 wherein saidmarkers comprise geometric shapes.
 5. The board game of claim 1 whereinsaid piece spots comprise a female receptacle, wherein said game boardpieces comprise a male protrusion configured to fit within said femalereceptacles.
 6. The board game of claim 1 wherein said piece spotscomprise a male protrusion, wherein said game board pieces comprise afemale receptacle configured for placement on said male protrusion. 7.The board game of claim 2 wherein said deck of cards does not includethe jokers.
 8. A method of playing a board game for at least twoplayers, said board game playing method comprising the following:providing a game board having two columns intersecting generally in theshape of an x, wherein said columns of said x comprise four legextensions of said x, wherein each of said columns comprises three rowsof piece spots configured for a board game piece to be placed at,wherein said columns comprise a first outer row, an inner row, and asecond outer row, wherein said inner row is located between said firstouter row and said second outer row, wherein said game board comprisesfour home areas configured for placement of a series of game boardpieces, wherein each of said four home areas is configured with adifferent marker corresponding with the color of a series of gamepieces, wherein said rows of said intersecting columns are configuredsuch that the perimeter of said leg extensions is configured to be in amarker different from said four home areas and designate an endless pathof spaces designated for game piece travel, wherein each of said legextensions comprises a starting point for one of said four series ofgame board pieces on said path, wherein each of said starting pointscomprises an interruption in said continuous path, wherein the middle ofsaid intersecting columns comprises a space without any indicator,wherein each of said leg extensions of said x comprise a home area forsaid game pieces, wherein each of said leg extensions comprises a homearea for one set of game pieces, wherein each of said home areas extendsfrom said continuous path inward to said open space; providing four setsof game pieces, wherein each set of game pieces comprises a markercorresponding to one of said markers of said home areas and said homeareas; providing a plurality of action cards, each card having a frontand a back, wherein the front has an action statement; wherein the boardgame is played by starting each player's pieces in the starting area,wherein a first set of cards is dealt to each player, wherein saidnumber of cards in said first set of cards is configured such that allset of cards can be dealt out of said cards without having to reshufflesaid cards, wherein said entire deck is dealt to players of the game;wherein when a players plays one of said action cards, said player movesone of said player's pieces the number of spaces shown on the card in afirst direction around said path, wherein when a player plays another ofsaid action cards said player proceeds one of said player's game piecesfrom said home area to said start area, wherein when a player playsanother of said action cards said player exchanges the location of oneof said players game pieces with one of a second player's game pieces,wherein when a player plays another of said action cards said playereither moves a piece to said start area or moves one of said player'spieces twelve spaces in said first direction, wherein when a playerplays one of said action cards said player moves a piece three spaces insaid second direction; wherein a first player plays one of said actioncards to begin play by moving a piece to said start area, wherein saidplayers move said pieces around said path by playing action cards,wherein a player passes on any turn by laying down an action card andnot moving any pieces except a player may not pass any card that causesa piece to move three spaces in said second direction, wherein after aplayers turn the next player plays a card, wherein when a player getsall of said player's pieces into said home area said player wins saidgame, wherein after each of said cards from said all sets are played,the cards are shuffled and dealt again; wherein when said pieces aretraveling on said path a player's pieces are not allowed to pass piecesof the same marker, wherein when a player plays an action card thatcauses said player's piece to land another player's piece, the otherplayer's pieces is returned to his or her start area, wherein if aplayer has no pieces out of the start area and no action cards to allowthe player to move out of the start area said players turn is passed,wherein when all the cards have been played from a shuffle and dealingthe cards are reshuffeled and play continues until one player gets allof said players pieces into the home area.
 9. The method of playing aboard game of claim 8, wherein said action cards comprise at least onedeck of cards, wherein when a player plays an Ace moves a piece to thestart area or moves a piece one space, wherein when a player plays aKing the player only moves a piece to the start area, wherein when aplayer plays a Queen the player moves a piece to the starting area ormoves a piece twelve spaces, wherein when a player plays a Jack theplayer trades a players piece with another players piece, wherein when aplayer plays a three the player moves a piece three spaces backwards,wherein all other cards are used to move forward the number of spaceshown on the card.
 10. The method of playing a board game of claim 8,wherein said game ends after a first player wins said game by gettingall of the pieces of said first player to said home area.
 11. The methodof playing a board game of claim 8, wherein said board game is played byteams of two players, wherein said team of two players defines a firstpartner and a second partner, wherein said players are positioned onopposite legs of said x, wherein said two players play until all of afirst partners pieces are in said first partners home area, whereinafter said first partners pieces are in said first partners home areasaid first partner plays cards to move pieces of said second partnertoward said home of said second partner.
 12. The method of playing aboard game of claim 8, wherein when three or four players are playingsaid board game, five of said action cards are dealt in a first group toeach player, wherein after the first set of cards have been played cardsare dealt out in sets of four until all the cards are used.
 13. Themethod of playing a board game of claim 8, wherein when two players areplaying said board game, five of said action cards are dealt in a firstgroup to each player, wherein after the first set of cards have beenplayed cards are dealt out in sets of four until all the cards areplayed.